Preparing early enough?If not, point at the ball with your racquet handle

One of the most common mistakes for beginning and intermediate players is not starting the backswing early enough on groundstrokes. Even if you have reliable groundstrokes, in the heat of the match, you may forget the basics of good stroking and wait for your opponent's shot to land in your court before taking your racquet back. This late preparation forces you to rush your forward stroke and may cause your shot to fly out of bounds or straight into the net. Instead, start your backswing early enough so that your racquet handle points almost directly at the approaching ball before it bounces. This way, you won't have to rush your shot; with your racquet already back, you can take a smooth, controlled forward swing that will help set your groundstrokes straight.

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